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Introduction and purpose: Digoxin, a cardiac glycoside derived from Digitalis lanata, has stood as a cornerstone in the treatment of various cardiovascular disorders for centuries. This study aims to delve into the demographic aspects, clinical characteristics, and outcomes associated with Digoxin poisoning. By drawing upon a dataset involving 22 patients hospitalized for Digoxin intoxication at the Clinical Department of Toxicology and Cardiology in Lublin, Poland, spanning from April 2014 to December 2023, our investigation seeks to provide an understanding of this issue. Brief description of the state of knowledge: Despite the efficacy of Digoxin, the potential risk of intoxication, especially in the elderly, necessitate a comprehensive examination. Age-related changes, such as declining renal function, electrolyte imbalances, comorbidities and polypharmacy affect how drugs like Digoxin work. The symptoms of Digoxin poisoning can manifest in various organ systems such as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, nervous system, highlighting the importance of prompt recognition to seek medical attention. Methods and results: In our study, we analyzed data from 22 patients hospitalized due to Digoxin intoxication, focusing on demographic aspects, clinical characteristics and outcomes. The cases of Digoxin poisoning were categorized according to several factors, including the quantity and nature of substances consumed, the cause of intoxication, gender, age brackets, health conditions, peak serum Digoxin levels, length and outcomes of hospitalization. Conclusions: Our study provides insights into the characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized due to Digoxin intoxication. The findings underscore the association of Digoxin poisoning, and emphasize the importance of monitoring serum levels to prevent adverse outcomes. As Digoxin continues to be relevant in treating cardiovascular conditions, our study calls for careful management and monitoring.

Introduction and Aim: Adolescent suicide attempts are a significant clinical and social issue. Often, young people resort to medications, alcohol, or psychoactive substances in their suicide attempts. The aim of this study was to analyze the factors contributing to suicidal behaviors and the characteristics of substances used by adolescents for suicidal purposes. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, medical documentation analysis was used. The study included the medical records of 45 individuals up to 18 years of age who were admitted to the Clinical Toxicology-Cardiology Department due to poisoning for the purpose of suicide in the year 2022. Results: The study group consisted of 45 individuals aged 15 to 18 years. Suicide attempts accounted for 37.5% of toxicology hospitalizations in the under 18 age group. The dominant group consisted of females (82.2%) and urban residents (62.2%). Those hospitalized following a suicide attempt primarily used medications, often over-the-counter analgesics. The majority (71.1%) suffered from mental disorders, predominantly depressive disorders (81.2%). Conclusions: Among suicide attempts involving intoxication, those utilizing medications are dominant. A concerning phenomenon is the use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications, commonly considered safe. Girls are particularly vulnerable to emotional difficulties that can lead to suicide. Mental disorders pose a suicidal risk, and patients with such disorders have access to psychiatric medications that can become tools for self-harm.

Introduction and purpose: Detergents are compounds that constitute the main component of cleaning products. Due to their varied chemical structure, they have different functions and a wide range of applications. The aim of this study is to draw attention to the problem of toxic effects of detergents on the basis of analysis of cases of detergent poisoning by patients of the Toxicology and Cardiology Ward of the Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński Provincial Hospital in Lublin. Material and methods: The study was retrospective in nature. It used an analysis of the medical records of 11707 intoxications in patients between 01.01.2013 and 31.12.2022, from which a group of individuals with a diagnosis of T55 according to the ICD 10 classification "Toxic effects of soaps and detergents" consisting of 36 cases was selected. Results: The study population consisted of 18 (50%) women and 18 (50%) men. The majority- 19 patients (52.78%) were exposed to the toxic effects of detergents accidentally. 10 patients (27.78%) were suicide attempts. Accompanying medical conditions were mostly psychiatric disorders, with alcohol dependence syndrome predominating - 9 cases (25%). The majority - 33 patients (91.67%) intoxified themselves with detergents in the form of liquids and solids by the oral route . Conclusions: Despite their usefulness in households and industry, detergents contribute to adverse health effects in situations of accidental exposure or intentional intake. In order to reduce the number of complications, preventive measures should be implemented - such as storing detergents in less accessible areas, in original boxes with retained labels, and increasing funding for psychological-psychiatric care in a crisis situation.

Introduction: Poisonings with non-beverage alcohols remain a significant problem in contemporary toxicology. Due to the large quantity and severe course of intoxications with methanol, the authors of this study focused primarily on poisonings with this substance. Methanol is widely used in industry. Its toxicity is attributed to its metabolites - formaldehyde and formic acid. Poisonings with methanol often lead to the patient's death due to a wide range of complications associated with progressive metabolic acidosis. Material and Methods: The study is of a retrospective nature. It involved the analysis of medical records of patients admitted to the department of toxicology in 2022 after the consumption of non-beverage alcohols, with a particular focus on methanol. Data on the number of individuals admitted due to non-beverage alcohol intoxication between 2018 and 2022 was also analyzed. Results: Over the last 5 years (2018-2022), 36 individuals were hospitalized in the Clinical Toxicological-Cardiological Department due to non-beverage alcohol poisoning, with 16 (44.4%) cases involving methanol. In the year 2022, the department admitted 10 individuals aged 18 to 68, and 5 (50%) of them consumed methanol. Among the hospitalized, 90% were male, and 60% came from rural areas. Deliberate intoxications accounted for 70% of the cases. Four hospitalizations (40%) resulted in patient death. All deaths were associated with methanol intoxication. Conclusions: Non-beverage alcohol is often used by people with alcohol dependence syndrome. Among non-beverage alcohols, patients most often reached for methanol. Its consumption is associated with a high mortality rate and should be taken very seriously and treated immediately.

Introduction and purpose: Poisoning among children and adolescents is occurring on an ever-increasing scale. Women are particularly susceptible to intentional poisoning, and they predominate in the statistics of self-poisoning. The aim of the study is to analyze cases of poisoning in girls under 18 years of age hospitalized in the Clinical Toxicology and Cardiology Department of the Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski Regional Hospital in Lublin in 2022, taking into account the type of substance ingested, the place of residence of the patients and comorbidities. Material and methods: The study was retrospective in nature. It used the analysis of medical records of 84 cases of intoxication in girls under 18 years of age. Results: During the time period studied, 84 girls aged 13-18 were hospitalized for poisoning. Most of the cases were urban residents (64.3%). The toxic substances causing poisoning were mainly drugs (63.1%), narcotics (17.9%) and ethanol (17.8%). Poisoning of an intentional nature involved 80 (95.2%) cases, 37 (44%) cases were suicide attempts. In 54 (64.3%) cases, the patient was burdened with a mental illness, the most common being depressive disorders. There were no deaths in the study group. Conclusions: Due to the increasing phenomenon of mental disorders, as well as intentional poisoning among adolescent girls, special emphasis should be placed on psychological care, pedagogical care, of girls in adolescence. This is the time when girls have problems with acceptance of their bodies, with acceptance among peers. Parents and teachers should be made aware of this.

Introduction and purpose: Drug poisoning is one of the more common reasons for patients being hospitalized in toxicology wards. The wide availability and ease of obtaining a wide variety of drugs and supplements are the cause of adverse reactions associated with their use. Increasing life expectancy and emerging chronic diseases also require the use of sometimes many drugs to control people's health. This can lead to poly-pragmasy, which is an undesirable condition and leads to poisoning. The purpose of our work is to demonstrate the most common causes of drug poisoning considering the criterion of division according to ICD-10. Brief description of the state of knowledge: Any preparation, drug, supplement can cause negative effects on the organism. This depends on the dose, improper use, or cross-reactions of the relevant substances. The study compiled statistics on the cause of hospitalization of drug-poisoned patients based on ICD-10. 5433 patients were included in the study. Conclusions: Our work shows that the most common causes of hospitalization due to drug poisoning are those caused by antiepileptic drugs, sedative-hypnotics and antiparkinsonism medications. The data compiled in this article agree with scientific reports from different countries compiling the most common reason for hospitalization related to drug poisoning.

Introduction and aim: Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a commonly used analgesics and antipyretics and it is a nonprescription medicine. Improper use of it may lead to accidental or intentional poisoning. The aim of the study was to analyse paracetamol poisonings in children and adolescents admitted to the Clinical Department of Toxicology and Cardiology in Stefan Wyszyński Regional Specialist Hospital in Lublin in 2022. Material and methods: The research was retrospective. Medical records of poisoning cases in patients up to the age of 18 were analysed specifically emphasizing acetaminophen poisonings. Results: In the studied period 120 adolescents were hospitalized due to intoxication, 65 of them due to medications intake, the most commonly used medicine was acetaminophen. There were 20 cases of hospitalization because of acetaminophen intake, 17 (85%) patients were female and 3 (15%) of them were male. Patients were from 15 to 17 years old. In 12 cases (60%) patients came from urban areas. The intentional intoxications were found in 18 (90%) cases, 13 of them were suicide attempt. Majority of cases of attempted suicide were female (92%). The other intoxications were accidental, where patients took acetaminophen as a painkiller. In the researched group there were no deaths. Conclusions: Paracetamol overdosing is always associated with the risk of liver damage.This medicament as a potentially hepatotoxic drug should not be sold over the counter. The availability of paracetamol is too widespread, which poses a risk especially to children and adolescents. The ubiquitous advertising of acetaminophen products as well as their popular use, for example, in menstrual pain, favor their presence in almost every Polish home. Parents and guardians should be educated about the dangers of uncontrolled use of so-called OTC drugs - incorrectly commonly considered safe.

Introduction and purpose: Cardiological drugs are widely used in the management of various cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, angina, heart failure, and arrhythmias. However, when these drugs are taken in excessive amounts or are not used as prescribed, they can become toxic and cause significant harm to the heart and other organs. Our study aims to illustrate the most frequent causes of poisoning with cardiological drugs in patients hospitalized in the toxicological and cardiological department from April 2013 to December 2021. Brief description of the state of knowledge: Poisoning with cardiological drugs is a growing concern for healthcare professionals. In 2019, cardiovascular toxins were one of the top 10 categories of poisons evaluated by medical toxicologists. Data collected from the analyzed toxicology and cardiology department include a group of 387 hospitalized patients. The largest proportion were cases intoxicated by beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists. The second most common group was poisonings by angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors. A slightly lower proportion implicated poisonings caused by other, unidentified substances affecting the cardiovascular system - calcium channel blockers and other antihypertensive drugs. Conclusions: All of the data demonstrated in our study shows the importance of understanding the pharmacology, pathophysiology, and treatment strategies of poisonings caused by cardiological drugs which are one the most widely used medications worldwide.

Introduction and purpose: Poisoning in children and adolescents remain a serious medical, psychological and social problem. The aim of the study was to analyse poisonings in patients up to 18 years old admitted to the Clinical Department of Toxicology and Cardiology in Stefan Wyszyński Regional Specialist Hospital in Lublin in 2022. Material and method: The research was retrospective. Medical records of 120 cases of poisoning in patients up to the age of 18 were analysed. Results: In the studied period 120 patients from 13 to 18 years old were hospitalized due to intoxication, 84 (70%) of them were female and 36 (30%) of them were male. Majority of cases came from urban areas (69,2%). The most frequent causes of poisonings were medicaments (55%), drugs (29,2%) and alcohol (28,3%). The intentional intoxications were found in 113 (94,2%) cases, 45 (39,8%) of them were suicide attempt. Mental diseases were found in 71 (59,1%) cases, the most common one was depressive disorder. There were no deaths in the researched group. Conclusions: Because of the relevance of child patients poisoning young people should be provided with psychological care. Female teenagers must get special kind of support. The availability of child psychiatrists and psychologists is still too poor. Prohibition of selling alcohol to minors should be enforced stricly. It seems that acces to OTC drugs is way much too easy for people. There is a necessity of parents’education about children poisoning.

Introduction Clinical manifestation of organophosphates toxicity may be differentiate and include cholinergic toxidrome, intermediate syndrome, OP-induced delayed polyneuropathy to chronic OP-induced neuropsychiatric disorder (OPIDN). Patients symptoms, along with decrease in cholinesterase serum level, determines the possible diagnosis of organophosphate poisoning. Objective The aim of the study was to present the clinical manifestation and cholinesterase level changes in intoxication with organophosphorus compounds in patients. Material and methods A data base was created by analysis of the hospital documents of 34 patients hospitalized due to organophosphate intoxication. Statistical analysis involved frequency tables with percentage values, the application of non-parametric Chi-square test and parametric t-Student test (with homogeneity of variance Levine test). The level of static significance was set to p=0.05. Results In fatal hospitalizations (20.6%), cholinesterase level was significantly lower (265.87 U/l) than in other patients (4254.78 U/l; p

During the autumn season, it is common for mushroom pickers to eat poisonous mushrooms. This is due to many reasons, including the ignorance of pickers. The most common is the misidentification of inedible species as edible mushrooms. The result is poisoning, which in many cases requires hospitalization. This paper presents a case report of toadstool poisoning by a 62-year-old female patient. In addition, other relevant publications on intoxication, diagnostic methods and treatment are reviewed. The purpose of this paper is to present the management and treatment of a case of toadstool poisoning. The effects of mushroom poisoning can range from mild disorders, mainly gastrointestinal to organ failure and even death. Significant elevations of liver enzymes and prothrombin time are important in laboratory tests in cases of intoxication. Treatment most often involves specific antidotes, such as Sylimarin, Acetylcysteine. The diagnosis in most cases is made on the basis of the clinical picture and a thorough interview with the patient, and the diagnosis is established by detecting toxins in a urine test. The prognosis is better if patients with toadstool poisoning are admitted to the hospital early. It is worth noting that gastrointestinal syndromes can also result from eating raw or inadequately cooked mushrooms, and by eating them excessively or too often. Proper diagnosis and treatment of mushroom poisoning can save lives. It is very important to raise public awareness of mushroom poisoning, as well as early detection of potential signs of intoxication. Cooperation with the poison center and mycologists is very important, especially in high-risk cases.

INTRODUCTION Paracetamol is one of the most widely used analgesics and antipyretics in the world. An overdose of this drug can occur after a single ingestion of a large amount of paracetamol or after repeated ingestion of smaller amounts that eventually exceed the recommended total dose and can result in liver damage. It is believed that the maximum daily dose of paracetamol for an adult is 4g. MATERIALS AND METHOD Patient information was collected from hospital records available in the clinical toxicology department. In addition, we conducted a literature review on paracetamol using PubMed. CASE REPORT A patient, 16 years old, was admitted from a district hospital to the Clinical Toxicology and Cardiology Department in Lublin for paracetamol intoxication and suspected intoxication with a psychoactive substance. The patient's history revealed that he had taken a total of 20 paracetamol 500mg (10g) tablets in short intervals of 2 h for abdominal pain. The patient was treated with a full dose of antidote (ACC), and the drug infusion was continued at a maintenance dose. Despite the treatment administered, increasing features of liver damage were observed (INR 2.78, AST 6273 U/l, ALT 8854 U/l, bilirubin 3.83 mg/dl).The patient was consulted to qualify for a possible liver transplant. With intensive treatment maintained, a downward trend in liver damage parameters was achieved. The patient was discharged from the Department in good general condition, without complaints. CONCLUSION Due to the increasing number of paracetamol overdoses (intentional or accidental), strategies should be implemented to raise awareness and prevent this-educating patients, encouraging label/leaflet reading, reducing the amount of paracetamol in packages, more visible warnings on packages.

INTRODUCTION: Sodium valproate is one of the most important antiepileptic drugs. It can be effective as a preventive treatment for migraine, it has also found use in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder and acute mania,it is sometimes used in the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia, in the treatment of schizophrenia borderline personality disorder and acquired brain injury, this drug is used off-label. Its overdose can be fatal. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Patient information was collected from hospital records available in the clinical toxicology department. In addition, we conducted a literature review on sodium valproate treatment, its toxicity, side effects and pharmacokinetics using PubMed. CASE REPORT: A 57-year-old patient with a history of depressive disorders was admitted to the Clinical Department of Toxicology and Cardiology in Lublin for intentional intoxication with the drug Absenor (sodium valproate). The patient had taken 3 packages of Absenor 500 mg (300 tablets in total) for suicidal purposes. The determined concentration of valproic acid was 841 µg/ml, and the patient's condition was very severe. Despite the treatment administered-multiple attempts at gastric lavage, administration of activated charcoal, performance of hemodialysis procedures, administration of infusion of catecholamines, the patient died on the fifth day of hospitalization. CONCLUSION: An overdose of sodium valproate can be fatal. Keep this in mind when ordering this drug for patients with a positive history of suicide attempts.

INTRODUCTION: Despite medical developments, drug poisoning still occurs. Lithium is a drug that has been used for more than 60 years as a mood stabilizer in the treatment and prevention of bipolar disorder, mania and recurrent depression. Lithium is the most commonly prescribed mood stabilizer. It has a narrow therapeutic index. Its target concentration in acute mania should be 0.6-1.5 mEq/L and 0.6-0.8 mEq/L for maintenance therapy. Because of this, there is a risk of lithium intoxication. We would like to present to you the case of a patient with chronic lithium poisoning. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Patient information was collected from hospital records available in the clinical toxicology department. In addition, we conducted a literature review on lithium treatment, its toxicity, side effects and pharmacokinetics using PubMed. CASE REPORT: The patient, 58, was referred for lithium poisoning and admitted to the Clinical Toxicology and Cardiology Department in Lublin for treatment. The patient had a previous diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder, hypertension and obesity. According to the history, the patient was admitted to the psychiatric ward due to deterioration of her mental state for a month. She was found to have a high lithium level -2.98 mmol/L and elevated renal function parameters-creatinine 2.13 mg/dl. During treatment with hemodialysis, these parameters returned to normal. CONCLUSION: It is important to remember that lithium has a narrow therapeutic range. Attention should be paid during lithium treatment to situations that increase the risk of adverse effects and the development of toxicity, and serum lithium concentrations should be monitored during treatment.